Design Wall Monday - August 3, 2026

 🛏️ 🤒   Good Morning Quilters!  The last days of July were not so good for me.  I’ve had the flu, but am declaring victory over it today.  I refuse to be sick in August.  

The project of replacing the lost Jane Stickle doll quilt is over.  I completed the last block yesterday and it won’t take me but a day to quilt it and bind it.  This time a label will go on the back right away.  And I will take good care of it if it leaves my house!

Here is a picture of the front before quilting and binding.  

I am concentrating next on the Jane Austen quilt that is on the design wall.  What are you creating this week?

Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party and show us what you are creating this week.  We would love to see!  And it will help me feel better.

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Design Wall Monday - July 27, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

My report of quilting work this week involves only the small Jane Stickle doll quilt that I am cross stitching.  But I have made great progress on it!  I only have 9 blocks left to cross stitch before the top is finished and I can make it into a doll quilt.  Here is a progress picture:

What have you been working on?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us your pictures and a link to your blog post.  Thanks to all who participate.  You are a blessing to me, and I enjoy reading your posts.

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Design Wall Monday - July 20, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

Well, this week we had company and I got very little done on my quilting projects. Close friends visited us, with their five young children.   They love to swim, and with their visit and other lake events this week, I went swimming four times in seven days!  More than I usually do in a whole summer.  I had a wonderful time, and we have many wonderful memories to remember of playing with little children.  It sure is quiet around here now that they are gone back home.

I have a little more progress on my Jane Stickle doll quilt to show you.  It is not much, but there are two more blocks finished.  Slow and steady some weeks, and faster in other weeks.  But progress all the same.

Here is a current picture:

As proof of what I’ve been doing instead of quilting:  a picture of me in a lake with my “extra Granddaughter” Veronica, and my dog Penny Lane.  Penny loves, loves, loves swimming.  I have to make her come out of the water when it is time to go home.

I hope you have been enjoying the summer too.  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us what you have been doing.  Quilting or swimming, it will be fun to see your pictures and read your blogs.  Thanks for participating.

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Design Wall Monday - July 6, 2026

 Happy 6th of July everyone!  

The 4th was pretty quiet around my house, but we did have some excitement the day before.  Hubby got a hole in one on the golf course!  We have been celebrating his celebrity status ever since.  Pretty good for an 84 year old!

I finished the America 250 doll quilt in time for the fourth.  It measures 12” by 16”. 

Here is a picture of it beside the copy I made of the original crib quilt.  My crib quilt measures 38” by 45”.  I blogged about making the crib quilt (Here)

If possible, I make a small quilt version to match every quilt I make.  In this case the quilt I made in 2016 was a replica of an 1862 crib quilt.  The original quilt sold at auction at Sotheby’s for $5,938 and measures 32.25” by 38.25”.

The cross stitch Jane Stickle doll quilt is progressing - but slowly this week.  

There are only 3 more blocks stitched this past week.  Some blocks take me more time than others to cross stitch, but I am nearing the finish line.  I like cross stitching.  There are only 8 more square blocks and 15 more triangles to make.  

The design wall:  The Jane Austen coverlet replica has 2 more rows of blocks with sashing between them:

Thank you to all of you for participating in our Design Wall Monday Linky Party.  I love looking at your pictures and reading your blogs.  I am so grateful that you share your progress with us.  You are a blessing!

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Design Wall Monday - June 29, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

There is progress on my America 250 doll quilt:

I have the main part of the hst body finished, and am ready to add the stripes to sides and top.  

The two flags for the bottom part were made this week.  However, I forgot that they had to be mirror images of each other.  There will be another flag made this week, with the stars in the upper left side of the flag.  Here is the flag part where you can see my mistake:

The flags are larger than they will be in the quilt, as I will cut them down to a smaller size before sewing them into the quilt.  I am winging it on the flag size, as my doll quilt will be smaller than the Temecula Quilt Co pattern.  The pattern is for half square triangles that finish at 1.5 inches, and my half square triangles finish at 5/8 inches, about half the size of the pattern hsts.

The Jane Stickle doll quilt that I am cross stitching is getting nearer to the finish line.  Here is a picture:

Some of you asked if I use a magnifying glass.  I don’t have one, which would probably be useful.  Instead, I wear two pair of reading glasses from the drug store, or sometimes only one pair.  I look pretty funny with two pair of glasses on at the same time, but it works for this project.  If I do 9 squares a week, it will be finished in three weeks.  I seem to be getting faster as I progress on this project, so I may make a third one………....NOT!  lol

My design wall:  The Jane Austen quilt has another partially completed row with sashing added to the right side on the wall.  With the diagonal setting of rows, each row has two more blocks in it until the middle, and then the blocks decrease in number on the second half.  The row I’m on right now has 12 blocks. I have 4 more blocks to add to it.  Each row has 2 more blocks in it until the center ones, which have 20 blocks.  This construction of sashing on this quilt is happening slowly as I am keeping it all on the design wall to keep all the blocks in the correct order.   I shall like it better when I’m on the second half and the block numbers decrease per row.  Here is a progress picture:

We are not doing much for the 4th of July this year,  As we age, we find more pleasure is just relaxing at home on holiday weekends.  There are plenty of sporting events this week to watch while I cross stitch, as we are now watching the FIFA World Cup soccer games and Wimbledon tennis is starting today.  Are you celebrating the 4th of July in a special way?  Our flag will be flying, but we will enjoy watching others celebrate.  We have a wonderful country, and are very proud of America.

What is on your design wall, or what are you doing this week?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us.   Thanks for participating and showing us your picture and link to your blog.  Happy 4th of July to you all.

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Design Will Monday - June 22, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

Not much to show you this week as I had a busy week with non-quilty things.  Here is my Jane Stickle cross stitch doll quilt progress, with another row of blocks completed:

Only two more rows to go, plus the triangles around the edge of them.  I am ready to be finished with this one.  I have had enough penance.

With FIFA World Cup 2026 happening, we are now watching soccer.  I am learning the rules, and what the penalties are.  With all the sports that I follow, I have never followed soccer until now.  And it still baffles me that such a popular sport doesn’t allow use of the hands…….every other sport I follow does.  Most unusual.

Please show us what you have been working on, and provide a link to your blog post.  I enjoy reading your blogs and looking at your pictures.  Thank you for participating.

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Design Wall Monday - June 15, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

Today is my wedding day - 63 years ago!   DH and I have many happy memories of anniversaries in the past, but are just going out to dinner tonight as a small celebration this year.  He is golfing in the afternoon, and I am quilting with a friend.  Each doing our own loved hobby, and looking forward to the evening spent together.  We feel very blessed.

Here is a picture of the design wall, with a little progress on the Jane Austen project:

And here is the progress on the little doll quilt from the Temecula Quilt Company’s pattern:

The cross stitch Jane Austen doll quilt project is coming along nicely also.  Here is a progress picture.  Half of the 36 center blocks are now completed.

Do you see the block that is a pinwheel with little triangles on the tips?  It is green and pink in the kit’s floss instructions.  But it looks odd to me, so I looked at the Jane Stickle quilt pictures, and on her quilt, it is all one color.  See below, E-3:

So I am going to pick out the green center part and make it all one color.  It is something that would bother me if I didn’t.  But on the other hand, I don’t think I will check any of the other blocks for “Jane Stickle accuracy”, because I don’t want to change any of the other blocks that are now finished.

What are you working on this week?  Making progress I hope.  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us a picture and link to your blog post.  Thank you to all who participate.  

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Design Wall Monday - June 8, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

The Jane Stickle Doll Quilt (replacement for the lost one) is coming along nicely.  I seem to average one block a day, as I finished seven blocks this week.  That is good progress for me right now, as gardening outside has kept me busy too.  The weather has been fantastic lately.   

Here is the latest picture of the counted cross stitch project:

One nice serendipity this last week was that I received a large bouquet of Peonies from our neighbors.  They were leaving town for a vacation, and picked them for me to enjoy while they were away.  Wasn’t that a nice thing to do?  Amy took my picture with them just after I had received them.  

What have you been doing?  Nice blog posts and pictures last week.  Please click on the link below and join this week’s Design Wall Monday Linky Party.  Thank you to all who participate.

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Design Wall Monday - June 1, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

It seems like I didn’t get much accomplished this past week, but some weeks are like that.  I did get things accomplished, but just not quilty things.  The only quilt picture I have is of my progress on my replacement Jane Stickle Doll Quilt:

The cross stitch is a fun project to work on while I watch The French Open.  I am a big tennis fan, and enjoy watching tennis on the clay courts.  I cross stitch during the commercials.  

With Amy’s help, I’ve been cleaning out things in the house that need to be cleaned out.  For instance, this week, we dealt with my shoes in my closet.  The internet gave me a nice guide for the process, called “JACK”. 

Justify:  Does the item make my life easier, or does it bring me joy?

Assign:  Choose a place to keep it, a designated home.

Contain:  Put the item in its specific place.

Keep (or let go):  Make the final decision to keep it or donate it.

For my shoes, I kept all the shoes I currently wear, and got rid of any heels, fashion boots, sandals, or dress shoes that I haven’t worn since I turned 80.  The Salvation Army received some nice shoes, and the ones left fit nicely on my shoe rack in my closet.  It makes me smile to see the orderly rack with a few pair of shoes on it.  

What are you working on this week?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Quilty Party below and show us.  Thank you so much for joining in each week.  I appreciate you.  

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Design Wall Monday - May 25, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!  Today is Memorial Day and we honor those who fought and died for our freedom.  I have deep respect and gratitude for all of them. 

Five rows (out of a total of fifteen) are finished for the doll quilt I’m making to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary.  Sewing these hsts together is a fun project, as it grows a little bit each day.  See last week’s post for more info.

Progress has also been made on the Jane Austen quilt, with much thanks to Amy, our “extra Grandaughter” who is staying with us for the summer.  She helped me get the diamonds on the design wall in their proper order.  Here is a picture of Amy in front of the design wall.  It would have taken me twice as long to get these diamonds up there if I had to do it by myself.  Adding the sashing is the next step, and that will take some time.  

Isn’t she cute?  She is from Bangladesh and is a nursing student at a local college.  I have started adding sashing between the diamonds:

A closeup of sashing progress:

Also, a little progress on the Jane Stickle doll quilt #2.  It looks wrinkled because it is, but I will press it flat when it’s finished.   One of the four borders is finished, and 2 of the 36 blocks of the middle part.  I really enjoy cross-stitching, and may have to start another project when this one is complete.

Click on the link below to join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party.  I know your life is super busy, but we appreciate you so much when you join in, and show us your design wall, or your blocks, or whatever you are doing this week.  Thanks for participating.

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Design Wall Monday - May 18, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

We have a house guest for the summer, and she moved in yesterday.  For over two years we have befriended two international students attending Calvin University here in Grand Rapids.  They are Grace, who is from India, and Amy, who is from Bangladesh, and we lovingly call them “extra granddaughters”.  Amy was looking for housing for this summer between her junior and senior years of dorm living.  We asked her to come and live with us, and also help us a little as we are slowing down in our old age.  Amy is going to help me sort through and pare down my quilting supplies.  

This week I started a new doll quilt.  I couldn’t resist this pattern from the internet.  It is from the Temecula Quilt Company and is found (Here)

I was looking for a patriotic quilt to make as we celebrate 250 years of our country, and this one will be fun.

If you remember, I made a crib sized replica of this crib quilt a few years ago, and couldn’t resist making a doll sized one.   Here is my start:

Also, I worked more on the Jane Stickle doll quilt #2.  It is a relaxing project, and is also reminding me to be more careful with storage/transportion of my quilts.

What is your project or projects this week?  Do you have an America 250 project in your thoughts or have you started on one?

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Design Wall Monday, May 11, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

And Happy Mother’s Day too.  Here is one of my gifts,  on my coffee table:

After reading about hydrangeas, it seems like the deer like them too.  I’ll put this one on the front porch, as the deer don’t venture up onto the porch…..yet.

My 2nd doll quilt of Jane Stickle squares is coming along,  It doesn’t look like much progress, but five little blocks are made.  I don’t know why I enjoy working on tiny things, but I do. 

What are you working on this week?  Large or small, let us see them all.  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below,  Thank you to all of you who join each week.  Your work is an inspiration to me.  

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Design Wall Monday - May 4, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

Remember when I made this small doll quilt sized Jane Stickle quilt?  I made it (with a cross stitch pattern) while I was recuperating from knee replacement surgery early this year. Here is a picture if it on top of my full sized Jane Stickle quilt.

Well, it is lost…..due to my carelessness.  

I packed it to take to a retreat (for show and tell purposes)  and just stuck it loosely inside the larger Jane Stickle quilt in the back of my car.  And somehow it got lost while unpacking the car at the motel.  It was a very windy day.

I say carelessness because my brain said to me when packing……”that isn’t a very good place to put that little quilt”……  and also my brain said to me while I was going past the kitchen with the big quilt in my hands….”get a big garbage bag and put the two quilts in it so they won’t get dirty in the car”……..I ignored my brain in both cases. 😞

So as I said, it was a windy day when unpacking the car, and the little quilt is gone.  At the time, I didn’t look for it outside the motel because I thought (with my little brain)  “well, maybe you packed it somewhere else” …..”maybe it is still at home”  When you are old, you aren’t sure where you put things, and you spend lots of time looking for them.  Just a fact of life after 80.

But now the retreat is over and I am home again and it is nowhere to be found.  I am upset with myself for not taking more care in packing it for the trip, but I reasoned with myself with this thought:  As it was fun to make and I did succeed in making it……………..I will just make it again!  Which will also give me penance for my carelessness.

So today I show you the start of Jane Stickle doll quilt #2:

The arrows on the corner edges are to remind me which way the “X” is consistently crossed on the stitches.

So this is what I worked on this week.  This is a small error of mine, and when I think of all the world’s issues in general, I don’t feel sorry for me.  I am having fun making it again.

What are you making this week?  And is it something that you have made before?

Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party and show us what you are working on.  Thanks for faithfully participating each week.

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